Immortal of the Nine Realms

Regarding the Three Divine Beasts, or rather, the three Dao incarnations, it seemed traces of the Azure Lightning God Beast could still be found in the Nine Mortal Realms.

For example, there was Song Zhili. His sect, the Heavenly Saint Sect, was an ancient sect with an inheritance from antiquity. They too worshipped the Three Divine Beasts, and Song Zhili had gained the recognition of the Azure Lightning God Beast, allowing him to command the power of Azure Lightning.

However, Fang Chen had never fought him. When he was suppressed and slain, it happened too quickly, leaving no chance to witness the depth of his comprehension of Azure Lightning.

Compared to the Azure Lightning God Beast, traces of the Twilight Solar God Beast and Yin Lunar God Beast were much rarer.

Now, in the vast Three Thousand Dao Sect, disciples were growing in great numbers. But it was still uncertain whether anyone could gain recognition from all three Divine Beasts at once.

But if such a person were to appear, then the stone bead would have a proper inheritor.

Collecting his thoughts, Fang Chen turned his gaze to Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang.

Fang Tianzun stood tall in the void, the strange spiritual powers he previously refined now coursing throughout his body as he joined forces with Fang Xuanyang to complete the final step of refining the Primordial Origin Qi.

Throughout the process, the void around Fang Tianzun dimmed into annihilation. Whatever dared to intrude would face damnation, turning into dust within moments.

As for Fang Xuanyang, he now resembled a towering titan, his height reaching a frightening one hundred feet. He was even taller than the giants of the Immortal Giant Sect that Fang Chen had seen before.

The terrifying force of his blood essence cloaked him, the digestion of the secret medicine reaching its final step. Once completely digested, his third body would be fully forged.

Although this planet was only a transit station for Fang Chen, there were still many local cultivators, including several first-transformation Loose Immortals.

As Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang advanced, their spiritual energy transformed into immortal essence.

These fluctuations generated from this sort of transformation were something Loose Immortals could easily pick up on. In a short span, figures began appearing dozens of miles away.

An old man with snow-white hair stared at Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang in astonishment. He looked at the others around him and asked, ”These two... who are they? Why have I never seen them before, and how are they advancing to Loose Immortals here?”

”I don’t know, they look unfamiliar. Their aura signatures are new to me. They must not have had any dealings with us.”

”Advancing to Loose Immortals here without saying a word and consuming our realm’s spiritual energy. This is clearly against the rules.”

Someone sneered coldly. ”Don’t waste words with them. Since they break the rules, let’s teach them a lesson and interrupt their advancement.”

The speaker’s eyes gleamed with predatory intent as they sized up Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang.

They had no fear of newly-advanced first transformation Loose Immortals, let alone ones still in the midst of their breakthrough.

In the Nine Mortal Realms, wherever Loose Immortals resided, there was an unspoken covenant all followed. Ascension Realm cultivators advancing would only do so on their own territory, for they had contributed to their homeland.

During such advancement, the process consumed the region’s spiritual energy. Vast quantities of heaven and earth essence would be depleted, taking centuries upon centuries to recover.

In places where spiritual energy was already declining, such losses might never be replenished.

Thinning spiritual energy weakened the entire realm.

The white-haired elder frowned, turning to the one who had suggested breaking the advance. ”Blood Crocodile, you haven’t even investigated their background, yet you dare to cut their path? What if they have elders standing behind them? Don’t forget how close we are to the Nanqing Constellation. It would take us only forty to fifty years to make the trip!”

”Ah, true. If they had powerful backers, we couldn’t afford to provoke them. We don’t even have a single second-transformation Immortal here.”

”Forget it, let’s swallow the loss. Hopefully, once they finish their advancement, they’ll leave quickly and not linger.”

The crowd murmured their agreement.

Only Blood Crocodile sneered with disdain. ”Background? If they were from the Nanqing Constellation, tell me, why would they come here to advance? Isn’t it far easier to succeed there, where spiritual energy is abundant? I don’t need to tell you how rich that place is.”

”If their homeland’s foundations were even slightly stronger than ours, they wouldn’t have chosen here. So these two have no background.”

He continued coldly, ”If we don’t stop them now, once they’ve advanced, they’ll be harder to deal with. In this short time, they’ve already drained so much energy. We’ll interrupt them now and demand compensation. If they satisfy us, they can leave alive. If not, they’ll never leave here.”

The others revealed thoughtful looks.

The white-haired elder considered carefully, then finally nodded. ”You’re right. I was too cautious just now.”

With that, he led the charge toward Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang, laughing loudly. ”Hahaha! You two advance to Loose Immortals here, consuming our energy, yet did you even bother to inform us!?”

Blood Crocodile and the other first-transformation Loose Immortals followed right after him.

Fang Chen had sensed their presence from the very beginning, but since they hadn’t approached too close, he had no intention of driving them off.

He ignored their movements, calmly waiting for Fang Tianzun and Fang Xuanyang to finish their advancement.

Neither of the two was disturbed by the outside commotion.

By then, the old flood dragon had already returned. Standing by Fang Chen’s side, he watched the pair curiously.

Noticing the approaching Loose Immortals, the old flood dragon casually asked, ”Shall I slay them?”

Fang Chen shook his head. ”No need.”

As such, the Old Flood Dragon let it be.

Meanwhile, the white-haired elder and the others drew ever closer. Just as they prepared to act, their power suddenly vanished without a trace. One by one, they plummeted from the sky.

Were it not for their tempered bodies, they might have been crippled or killed.

Clambering up in disarray, the Loose Immortals realized that their cultivation was gone, as though they had become mere mortals. Their faces turned pale with fear.

”What’s happening!?” Blood Crocodile’s screamed in panic, eyes staring wide at the others.

”Our cultivation... it’s gone. This feeling... it’s familiar yet strange.”

”Blood Crocodile, your cultivation is gone too, isn’t it? Otherwise, why reveal your true form? So your real body’s less than 10 feet long, eh?”

Blood Crocodile snapped furiously, ”I asked what’s going on, not how long I am!”

The white-haired elder, still the calmest, suppressed his panic and looked below. There, beneath the two advancing Loose Immortals, stood a group of people.

His heart sank with a sudden jolt.

This was clearly a case of elders escorting juniors to advance. Yet Blood Crocodile’s reckless words had convinced them these two had no background.

Now their cultivation had been stripped away! Surely it was the work of that group.